Opinions on a 6.5 STW

[6.5 Bandit]

I seen this on accuratereloading.com and was wandering what you fellows think.
How do you think this would work? Think it would be a waste of time and money? Thanks

6.5 Bandit

[Steve Shelp]

6.5 Bandit,
If you review all the posts on this site about the 6.5-300 Weatherby (6.5 WWH), the 6.5 STW and the 6.5-300 WWH are bascially 1 for 1 comparison. The only difference being it's cheaper to grind a reamer with the standard shoulder angles of the STW over the double radius shoulders of the weatherby case. But loads and balisitics are for all intents and purposes the same.

I own a 6.5-300 WWH and it's a very good long range hunting caliber. You won't win a BR match with it and it is a hot rod so barrel life isn't like a 6.5-284, but I've seen a lot of exaggerated claims of barrels shooting out in a couple of hundreds of rounds that I don't beleive are true. (If it is true something else is wrong.... i.e. bad barrel steel, continuous high pressure loads producing a HOT barrel, etc ,etc)
I've had several barrels on my rifle and have buddies that have 6.5 WWHs also and I've never seen that much throat erosion. Those opinions usually come from people who have never shot this caliber. I keep it backed off from the high velocities during the summer and only stoke it up when the extra power is needed.

I just need to get the dust blown off the ol' girl and shoot it. It's been idle for too long. Need to look at some brown fur through that Unertl scope.

Steve

[Mysticplayer]

Depends on what you want to do. For taking a 142gr MK to extreme vel, it would be the ticket. Barrel life would be very short. Only powders are in the 872, 50BMG range. Longer barrels would be a necessity.

Wouldn't bother for hunting at LR. Bullet weight too light for 1000+ ranges.

Sort of the 220Swift for a hunting cartridge. I like the 6.5WSM/RSAUM design better for a barrel burner. Of course, the 6.5-284/Swede AI have a proven track record. The 6.5WSSM should make a nice BR case.

Lots of fun...Wretched excess

Jerry

[6.5 Bandit]

Thanks for the replies's.. I owned a few 6.5/300 WWH's and as we speak i'm having my last 6.5/300 rebarreled with the same but only difference is this one will have a 40 degree shoulder. I was thinking they would be similer but wasnt positive.. Again thanks for your imput.

6.5 Bandit